Inspiration: Multi-Purpose Floor-to-Ceiling Drapes

A little while back, Janel posted a fun design dare, challenging us all to consider brightly colored floor-to-ceiling drapes. And while we're not sure if we're brave enough to pull that off, the post got us thinking about the many ways the floor-to-ceiling look can work, both bold and subtle, and the various design problems that extra-long curtains can tackle...

FIRST ROW

• 1 and 2 Here are a couple examples of bold, colorful floor-to-ceiling drapes that really work. In the first image, photographed by Tara Donne, the colorful drapes add softness and vibrancy to a home workspace. The second, from a tour of Lisa Maycock's home on Design*Sponge, shows how a bright curtain can work wonders to add symmetry and texture in a simple room.

• 3 and 4 Consider using a floor-to-ceiling drape to hide a storage area like a closet or bookcase. We love the dramatic green drape in this photo from I Suwannee; the bookcase is pretty enough without it, but having the option to draw the curtain for a neater look is a great idea. And using a striped drapery to conceal storage in a nursery is a brilliant idea. Nursery from Beauvoir Interior Design, via Houzz.

• 5A simple white sheer, like this one from Decor8, can look gorgeous when draped from floor to ceiling; it's not as dramatic as a heavy curtain, but the effect is gauzy and ethereal.

SECOND ROW

• 6 You can also use a floor-to-ceiling curtain to hide a design problem in a rental. This lovely drape, from Canadian House and Home, conceals a dated-looking mirrored wall.

• 7 A simple white curtain behind a bed can lend softness to a wooden headboard (and provide privacy as well). In this photo from Paul Costello, the curtain allows the placement of the bed directly in front of a window.

• 8, 9, and 10 Floor-to-ceiling drapes can be used to divide a room, creating separate space for privacy. This can work for a large, open-plan space or loft, like Ann Wood's home, or for a smaller area meant to accommodate many purposes, like this loft bedroom from Domino, or this studio apartment, from a previous Apartment Therapy post: Using Curtains to Divide.

What do you think? Is this a look you could imagine bringing into your home? How would you do it?